Both emotionally and visually stirring, this film hits many of the biopic notes viewers might expect, yet it's so skillfully done that the story soars, carrying us with it.

Full Review | Jun 12, 2024

A film that is full of production value, filmed with classic elegance and that, above all else, shows new generations a situation that, beyond any commercial imposition, had to be deeply complicated for female development. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jun 12, 2024

Young Woman and the Sea is a fantastic, inspiring film seeing women empowered and overcoming the patriarchy by shattering ceilings. It’s also great to see Daisy Ridley show off her talent in a film that does a great job of platforming it.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jun 11, 2024

A capable cast and crew make Young Woman and the Sea an enjoyable, if predictable, story of empowerment.

Full Review | Jun 7, 2024

The movie is powered by Ridley's fully committed performance, and the tense, stirring climax delivers all the punch-the-air uplift that Ederle's story calls for.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 7, 2024

Feeds us too much schmaltz.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jun 7, 2024

The main weakness is the intrusive, overbearing music that insists on emotions already clearly conveyed through the performances and script. Still, the film works, with the triumph of talent and true grit.

Full Review | Jun 5, 2024

A shining example of what women can accomplish with the right support to fight sexism while making you dreams come true. Daisy Ridley gives a tour-de-force diamond performance as future Olympian Trudy Ederle

Full Review | Jun 4, 2024

While the schmaltz sometimes swells to corny levels, shifting the facts to add Hollywood-style flourishes, this is a riveting portrait of an important icon.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 4, 2024

Despite being made with all the production polish you’d expect of Disney — the sound design is an immersive, pebble-scouring experience even when viewed at home — Young Woman and the Sea leaves its star treading water.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 3, 2024

Young Woman and the Sea blends old-fashioned style and inspirational ambition in ways that may connect with audiences or, at minimum, introduce them to a neglected bit of popular history. Maybe that's enough.

Full Review | Jun 3, 2024

The film evokes all of the usual biopic tropes while painting a standard picture of an extraordinary hero.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 3, 2024

Ederle’s story feels honed at all times for maximum sympathy along the way, but can’t help impressing us, a century down the line, as a study in not giving up.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 3, 2024

Trudy Ederle’s story needed to be told, and that it also happens to be this gosh darn triumphantly entertaining is a giant win for all of us.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 3, 2024

It is a fantastic depiction of a trailblazer in women's sports. Daisy Ridley is phenomenal as Trudy.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jun 2, 2024

Her story is a thrilling show of determination and grit and I was thrilled when I saw that Disney was making a movie about her story.

Full Review | Jun 2, 2024

This film is a valuable testimony that will lift your spirit and give you an extraordinary life lesson: "When you want, you can." [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 1, 2024

‘Young Woman and the Sea’ is a splashy, celebratory biopic along with some pools of shallow storytelling.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 1, 2024

Groaning Hemingway-riffing title notwithstanding, Young Woman and the Sea goes to such dubious lengths to force this story... into a one-size-fits-all underdog sports movie template that it does a disservice to its subject, Trudy Ederle.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 1, 2024

Young Woman and the Sea is a traditionally made sports drama that might seem old-fashioned to some viewers. However, this biopic about champion swimmer Trudy Ederle has solid acting and themes that don't get outdated, such as triumphing over obstacles.

Full Review | May 31, 2024